Sunday, May 28, 2006

Wow, you should see the sunburn/tan I have already. It's the classic 'farmer' variety--arms below the tee-shirt, back of my neck, legs below the shorts, and face...lol Can you imagine fish-belly Birdie with a TAN?

(Just wait till I get my new camera. My sister in Chicago is monitoring ebay auctions even as we speak !)

It was HOT today, and really windy. The plants in the courtyard at the store had to be watered again this morning, after we spent most of yesterday watering. Even the fountains needed to be refilled...and we replaced the pump in the studio pond after I noticed that the waterfall was only dribbling. It's such a cool place to work, even when it's hot...lol

I hope both of you do something fun tomorrow--Memorial Day could make us think about the temporariness of our lives, and how our connections to each other are what it's all about....but in reality, we just try to keep cool and have a brat or two, get the boat in the water, and don't think about much of anything...and actually, that's good enough.

Friday, May 26, 2006

I've been consulting with son today on just what a 'better' camera for me would be...and he sent me THIS LINK . On the left menu, there's an item called "Buying Guide", and one option is a side-by-side comparison of features. Cool!So, here's the one I think I'll buy: it's another Kodak Easyshare, but it can zoom like crazy! Looks easier to handle, too, and I already understand the menu...

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

I had TWICE as many visitors here today than I normally do! But then, a 'normal' day is 12 or so...lol

My sis, who NEVER forwards cute e-mail, sent this today:

Why God made Moms ...-- BRILLIANT Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions--

Why did God make mothers?1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.2. Mostly to clean the house.3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you Your mother & not some other mom?1. We're related2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?1. His last name.2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.2. She got too old to do anything else with him.3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed..3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?1. Moms work at work and work at home & dads just go to work at work.2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?1. Mothers don't do spare time.2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Back in December, a friend gave me a picnic kit for a Christmas gift. It's a cool backpack thingy with four plates, four knives, spoons and forks, four gingham napkins, a bottle opener, salt and pepper shakers, and four plastic wine glasses. There's ample insulated room for sandwiches, salad, cheese, bread--whatever--AND a removable wine-bottle insulator bag.But other than trips on the Woebegone Trail or to watch fireworks on the fourth, I wondered how useful it'd be---until today!lol...I have a quart water bottle with one of those drinking spouts on top, and it fits perfectly into the wine bottle bag. I can fill it in the morning and take it along to work--should stay a bit cooler that way, especially if I freeze some water in the bottle overnight, huh?Good cold water with lunch and nice memories too!Thanks, L!

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Monday, May 15, 2006

...so far! lolTomorrow's my day off. I have a long list of stuff to do in town, one of which is to find a christening gift for the baby. My mind runs to the "perfect" most memorable present I can find... Oh, man--WHAT would that be??LOL...actually, I DO have something in mind: a collection of favorite books from her daddy's childhood, to be read to her as she grows. I enjoyed them years ago like he and his sister did, so reading them to the next generation'll be fun. We'll see if she finds the same goofy puns as funny as they did.Hmm...are little girls into giant squid and dinosaurs and trains?Hope so!(The baptism is Saturday, the 20th of May...expect more pictures, ok?)

Here in Minnesota, property taxes are due today and October 15th...half each time.I received a notice last year that I hadn't paid EITHER time. Oh, man...how did that happen??! Thinking back, it was because son's wedding was on May 14th and my job was in turmoil on October 15th...definitely, other things on my mind....

This year, however, son and daughter-in-law have just celebrated their first anniversary with their new little daughter, I have a new job (including paycheck), and the online payment system with the county actually works!Hooray...

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Just so you have an idea of what I'm doing these days and how it's connected to floral, here's the perennial greenhouse, some of our fountains and the blooming plants I placed around them--see why I like this place? Those two yellow daisy topiaries along the walkway on the left there? They're next to a small pond, and just behind that is the Shrub Lot. The Tree Lot is visable up there between the silo and the greenhouse...

I'm not finished with this display, but I LOVE the colors, don't you?

Some more of our fountains and the wall'o'pavers next to the main entrance of the store--ALL the blooming plants in these three pictures had to be moved inside because it's supposed to be 36 degrees tonight.....Hard to believe it's MAY!

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

It's startling to me that I've landed in a job that fits me so well. I come home physically tired and sweaty...lol...but tickled about what was accomplished during the day there.

We're preparing for Mother's Day/Memorial Day/Spring of course, and I'm doing outside displays of plants with jardinieres and moss, or rocks from the landscaping area, or birdbaths, or metal archways or statues and potting benches..(it looks like I'm working, but I'm really playing.....lol).

The SS site used to be a farm, so it's charming to begin with, and people enjoy being there. We have ponds with fountains (Lake Scenic out front has THREE, plus a small vending machine for fish food, which kids love), and a brook on the property. We sell Koi and aquatic plants--anything you might need for a water feature--AND trees, shrubs and plants for the yard around it.(It surprises me how much overlap there is with my knowledge of tropical plants. Did you know calla and canna lilys are water plants?)We sell landscaping materials, too, and with a little more practice, I'll be able to jump in the Bobcat and load your mulch for you!

Now, THAT IS cool!

I'm happier at this job than I was being a florist (and much happier than selling furniture), but I was overly enthusiastic in 1967 and 1999 and again a couple months ago...so I've learned my lesson: It's a cool job, I love it, but I'm limiting my use of exclaimation marks, ok?

"So, what are you doing on your day off, Birdie?" ....you ask.It's 53 right now, overcast and chilly. A brisk wind from the north, too. I started mowing and quit when it began to rain. I could see my breath.That red part is, as yet, unmowed....oh, damn.LOL

Sunday, May 07, 2006

(BTW, NEW BABY PICS, TOO --------------->)Right here on my desk, I have a cobalt vase with a bouquet of budding lilacs from the trees north of the house.Yes, of course I took pictures, but I wish I could send the smell as well! There's something so primal about the first spring whiff of lilacs, hm? To bury your face in the blossoms there on the tree and inhale deeply

...mmmm sweet, huh?

For even more delicate color, check out the Virginia Bluebells.They show up only for a few days in the early spring, then the plant seems to disappear for the rest of the year. The color always makes me smile.

A rusty toy truck in my north flowerbed, just for goofiness. Remember the name of the bright pink flower next to it?